Cuckoo

Jaha Koo / CAMPO

Fri 24 Apr and Sat 25 Apr

24 Apr

19:00

Teatr Łaźnia Nowa - Krakow

Tickets
25 Apr

19:00

Teatr Łaźnia Nowa - Krakow

Tickets

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One day when his electric rice cooker informed him that his meal was ready, Jaha Koo experienced a deep sense of isolation. ‘Golibmuwon’ (고립무원) is an untranslatable Korean word expressing the feeling of helpless isolation that characterizes the lives of many young people in Korea today.

Twenty years ago there was a major economic crisis in South-Korea, comparable to the financial crash in the United States and Southern Europe in 2008. This crisis had a huge impact on the young generation to which South Korean artist Jaha Koo belongs. He witnessed many endemic problems including youth unemployment and socio-economic inequality. Rising suicide rates, isolation, acute social withdrawal and a fixation on personal appearance are but a few of the symptoms.

In bittersweet and humorous dialogues, Jaha and his clever rice cookers take you on a journey through the last 20 years of Korean history, combining personal experience with political events and reflections on happiness, economic crises and death.

Duration: 55 minutes
In English & Korean, with English subtitles

Part of

Theme productions

On tour

Wolf Silveri

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Eunkyung Jeong

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Radovan Dranga

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Radovan Dranga

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Wolf Silveri

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Eunkyung Jeong

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Radovan Dranga

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Radovan Dranga

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Cuckoo forms the second part of Jaha Koo's Hamartia Trilogy. Together with Lolling & Rolling and The History of Korean Western Theatre, the trilogy consists of three intelligent documentary theatre performances, each telling a story about 'hamartia', Greek for 'tragic error'. The common thread here is the far-reaching imperialism of the past and present, and its sometimes unexpected personal impact. Each time, Jaha Koo interweaves his personal stories with historical, political and sociological facts. Often themes that involve a clash of Eastern and Western culture: from the clipping of tongues to make it in the West, to the heavy personal toll of Western interference in the macroeconomic sphere.

IN THE PRESS

"Cuckoo serves as a documentary narrative that everyone should witness. Its originality shines through, challenging preconceptions by highlighting the power of three rice cookers as unlikely raconteurs." - Medium - Lorenzo Belenguer, 20-09-23

"Cuckoo is a heavy, affecting piece of documentary theatre that masterfully wields its multimedia for both dark humour and piercing effect." - Bakchormeeboy - ★★★★★, 02-06-23

"My main artistic languages are music, video and robotic objects as theatre-maker." - Men's Folio - Charmaine Tan, 29-05-23

"A suicide every 37 minutes - Or how capitalism kills" - Publico - Mariana Duarte, 13-10-22

"... the work is intrinsically Korean – but which also has a modern European style and sensitivity, and sits very well into the body of Flemish new theatre work that explores the possibilities of the performance-lecture. A week later, I’m still haunted by the show’s sounds and images." - Totaltheatre.org.uk - Dorothy Max Prior , 12-02-19

"This performance by Koo is intriguing, disturbing and reflective of a world more and more subject to the dystopian Orwellian view." - Global Media Post - Mike Harrison, 26-02-20

"In Cuckoo, Jaha Koo tries to capture how his young personal life is entangled with collective South-Korean history." - Etcetera - Jasper Delbecke & Sébastien Hendrickx, 13-09-18

"Jaha Koo breaks through the boundaries between human and machine/robot that we as humans wish to preserve. How we can still be human, is the existential question Jaha Koo formulates in Cuckoo." - Tumult.fm - Carlo Siau, 06-02-23

Credits

concept, direction, text, music & video Jaha Koo performance Hana, Duri, Seri & Jaha Koo Cuckoo hacking Idella Craddock scenography & digital support Eunkyung Jeong dramaturgical advice Dries Douibi technique Korneel Coessens, Jan Berkmans, Bart Huybrechts (& Wim Clapdorp) production Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek executive producer CAMPO coproduction Bâtard Festival support CAMPO, STUK, BUDA, DAS, SFAC & Noorderzon/Grand Theatre with the support of the Flemish Community

Past touring dates

05 okt 17 - Steirischer Herbst - Graz (Oostenrijk)

06 okt 17 - Steirischer Herbst - Graz (Oostenrijk)

14 okt 17 - MMCA, National Museum of Mondern and Contemporary Art - Seoul (Korea)

15 okt 17 - MMCA, National Museum of Mondern and Contemporary Art - Seoul (Korea)

23 feb 18 - Beursschouwburg - Brussel (België)

24 feb 18 - Beursschouwburg - Brussel (België)

28 feb 18 - 20:30 - CAMPO victoria - Gent

01 mrt 18 - 20:30 - CAMPO victoria - Gent

13 mrt 18 - Black Box Teater - Oslo (Noorwegen)

14 mrt 18 - Black Box Teater - Oslo (Noorwegen)

11 mei 18 - Kunstenwerkplaats Pianofabriek - Sint-Gillis

13 jun 18 - 20:00 - Latitudes Contemporaines - Lille (Frankrijk)

22 jun 18 - Athens & Epidaurus Festival - Athene (Griekenland)

23 jun 18 - Athens & Epidaurus Festival - Athene (Griekenland)

24 jun 18 - Athens & Epidaurus Festival - Athene (Griekenland)

28 jun 18 - Belluard Bollwerk International - Fribourg (Zwitserland)

25 jul 18 - ImpulsTanz Vienna - Wenen (Oostenrijk)

27 jul 18 - ImpulsTanz Vienna - Wenen (Oostenrijk)

03 aug 18 - Theater aan Zee - Oostende (België)

04 aug 18 - Theater aan Zee - Oostende (België)

11 aug 18 - Taipei Arts Festival - Taipei (Taiwan)

12 aug 18 - Taipei Arts Festival - Taipei (Taiwan)

15 aug 18 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Duitsland)

16 aug 18 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Duitsland)

17 aug 18 - International Summer Festival of Kampnagel - Hamburg (Duitsland)

23 aug 18 - Noorderzon Performing Arts festival - Groningen (Nederland)

24 aug 18 - Noorderzon Performing Arts festival - Groningen (Nederland)

25 aug 18 - Noorderzon Performing Arts festival - Groningen (Nederland)

26 aug 18 - Noorderzon Performing Arts festival - Groningen (Nederland)

26 sep 18 - 20:00 - Forum Freies Theater - Düsseldorf (Duitsland)

27 sep 18 - 20:00 - Forum Freies Theater - Düsseldorf (Duitsland)

29 sep 18 - Prague Crossroads Festival - Praag (Tsjechië)

30 sep 18 - Prague Crossroads Festival - Praag (Tsjechië)

04 okt 18 - 20:00 - Conde Duque - Madrid (Spanje)

05 okt 18 - 20:00 - Conde Duque - Madrid (Spanje)

06 okt 18 - 20:00 - Conde Duque - Madrid (Spanje)

18 okt 18 - 20:30 - nona - Mechelen (België)

04 nov 18 - 21:00 - Politik im Freien Theater 2018 - München (Duitsland)

05 nov 18 - 19:00 - Politik im Freien Theater 2018 - München (Duitsland)

21 nov 18 - 21:00 - Frascati - Amsterdam (Nederland)

22 nov 18 - 21:00 - Frascati - Amsterdam (Nederland)

30 jan 19 - Festival Parallèle - Plateforme pour la jeune création internationale - Marseille (Frankrijk)

12 feb 19 - 20:00 - Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts - Brighton

21 feb 19 - 20:30 - Antwerpen Kunstenstad vzw - Antwerpen

27 feb 19 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

28 feb 19 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

28 mrt 19 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (Nederland)

29 mrt 19 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (Nederland)

30 mrt 19 - 21:00 - Cement Festival - 's Hertogenbosch (Nederland)

10 apr 19 - It's the real thing - Basler Dokumentartage - Basel (Zwitserland)

22 mei 19 - 21:00 - Take Me Somewhere - Glasgow

30 mei 19 - 21:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

31 mei 19 - 21:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

01 jun 19 - 15:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

01 jun 19 - 21:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

02 jun 19 - 21:00 - FTA Festival TransAmériques - Montréal (Québec) (Canada)

24 jul 19 - Centrale Fies - Dro (Italië)

25 jul 19 - Centrale Fies - Dro (Italië)

25 aug 19 - Mladi Levi - Bunker Productions - Ljubljana (Slovenië)

02 sep 19 - 21:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Zwitserland)

03 sep 19 - 19:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Zwitserland)

04 sep 19 - 21:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Zwitserland)

05 sep 19 - 19:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Zwitserland)

06 sep 19 - 21:00 - La Bâtie - Genève (Zwitserland)

10 sep 19 - Short Theatre Festival - Rome (Italië)

11 sep 19 - Short Theatre Festival - Rome (Italië)

13 sep 19 - Dublin Fringe Festival - Dublin (Ierland)

14 sep 19 - Dublin Fringe Festival - Dublin (Ierland)

26 sep 19 - Trafó - Budapest (Hongarije)

05 okt 19 - 19:00- FIT - Festivale Internazionale del Teatro - Lugano (Zwitserland)

12 okt 19 - 20:30 - After Europe festival - Berlijn (Duitsland)

13 okt 19 - 20:30 - After Europe festival - Berlijn (Duitsland)

25 okt 19 - 19:00 - OzAsia Festival - Adelaide (Australië)

26 okt 19 - 19:00 - OzAsia Festival - Adelaide (Australië)

02 nov 19 - 19:30 - SPRING in Autumn - Utrecht (Nederland)

09 dec 19 - 19:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (Frankrijk)

10 dec 19 - 19:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (Frankrijk)

11 dec 19 - 19:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (Frankrijk)

12 dec 19 - 19:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (Frankrijk)

13 dec 19 - 19:00 - Festival d'Automne à Paris - Parijs (Frankrijk)

23 jan 20 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (Verenigde Staten)

24 jan 20 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (Verenigde Staten)

25 jan 20 - 20:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (Verenigde Staten)

26 jan 20 - 17:00 - On The Boards - Seattle, WA (Verenigde Staten)

30 jan 20 - 20:00 - Living Things Festival Arts Festival - Kelowna (Canada)

31 jan 20 - 20:00 - Living Things Festival Arts Festival - Kelowna (Canada)

03 feb 20 - 20:00 - PuSh International Performing Arts Festival - Vancouver (Canada)

04 feb 20 - 20:00 - PuSh International Performing Arts Festival - Vancouver (Canada)

05 feb 20 - 20:00 - PuSh International Performing Arts Festival - Vancouver (Canada)

07 feb 20 - 21:00 - Progress Festival - Toronto (Canada)

08 feb 20 - 19:00 - Progress Festival - Toronto (Canada)

09 feb 20 - 14:00 - Progress Festival - Toronto (Canada)

12 feb 20 - Usine C - Montreal (Canada)

13 feb 20 - Usine C - Montreal (Canada)

14 feb 20 - Usine C - Montreal (Canada)

12 mrt 20 - 20:00 - CC Ter vesten - Beveren (België) (GEANNULEERD)

31 mei 20 - 18:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Duitsland) (GEANNULEERD)

01 jun 20 - 20:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Duitsland) (GEANNULEERD)

02 jun 20 - 20:00 - Ruhrfestspiele - Recklinghausen (Duitsland) (GEANNULEERD)

26 okt 20 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Groot-Brittannië) (GEANNULEERD)

27 okt 20 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Groot-Brittannië) (GEANNULEERD)

01 dec 20 - Théâtre de Nîmes - Nîmes (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

02 dec 20 - Théâtre de Nîmes - Nîmes (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

03 dec 20 - Théâtre de Nîmes - Nîmes (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

17 mrt 21 - 20:00 - Théâtre Point du Jour - Lyon (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

18 mrt 21 - 20:00 - Théâtre Point du Jour - Lyon (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

19 mrt 21 - 20:00 - Théâtre Point du Jour - Lyon (Frankrijk) (GEANNULEERD)

11 jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (Frankrijk)

12 jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (Frankrijk)

13 jun 21 - Printemps des Comédiens - Montpellier (Frankrijk)

01 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

02 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

03 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

04 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

05 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

06 jul 21 - Kunstenfestivaldesarts - Brussel (België)

01 okt 21 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (Frankrijk)

02 okt 21 - Festival Actoral - Marseille (Frankrijk)

02 nov 21 - 20:30le Delta - Espace Culturel Provincial - Namen (België)

01 dec 21 - Théâtre de Nîmes - Nîmes (Frankrijk)

02 dec 21 - Théâtre de Nîmes - Nîmes (Frankrijk)

08 dec 21 - 19:45 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Groot-Brittannië)

09 dec 21 - 19:45 - Warwick Arts Centre - Coventry (Groot-Brittannië)

29 jan 22 - Teatre Lliure Barcelona - Barcelona (Spanje)

30 jan 22 - Teatre Lliure Barcelona - Barcelona (Spanje)

20 mrt 22 - MeetYou Festival - Valladollid (Spanje)

21 apr 22 - 21:00 - CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia - Udine (Italië)

22 apr 22 - 17:00 - CSS Teatro stabile di innovazione del Friuli Venezia Giulia - Udine (Italië)

10 jun 22 - Festival Carrefour International de Théâtre - Québec (Canada)

11 jun 22 - Festival Carrefour International de Théâtre - Québec (Canada)

17 jun 22 - 22:00 - Inteatro - Polverigi (Italië)

30 jun 22 - 17:00 - Malta Festival - Poznan (Polen)

30 jun 22 - 20:00 - Malta Festival - Poznan (Polen)

21 sep 22 - 20:30 - Theater De Nieuwe Vorst - Tilburg (Nederland)

13 okt 22 - 19:30 - FIMP - Festival Internacional de Marionetas do Porto - Porto (Portugal)

14 okt 22 - 19:30 - FIMP - Festival Internacional de Marionetas do Porto - Porto (Portugal)

12 nov 22 - 16:00 - Alkantara - Lissabon (Portugal)

13 nov 22 - Alkantara - Lissabon (Portugal)

14 nov 22 - Alkantara - Lissabon (Portugal)

16 mrt 23 - National Theatre and Concert Hall - NTCH - Taipei (Taiwan)

19 mrt 23 - National Theatre and Concert Hall - NTCH - Taipei (Taiwan)

27 mei 23 - 20:00 - Singapore International Festival of Arts - Singapore (Singapore)

28 mei 23 - 20:00 - Singapore International Festival of Arts - Singapore (Singapore)

10 jun 23 - Hangö teaterträff - Hangö (Finland)

02 sep 23 - Homo Novus Festival - Riga (Letland)

03 sep 23 - Homo Novus Festival - Riga (Letland)

14 sep 23 - 19:00 - LIFT - London International Festival for Theatre - Londen (Engeland)

15 sep 23 - 19:00 - LIFT - London International Festival for Theatre - Londen (Engeland)

16 sep 23 - 18:00 - LIFT - London International Festival for Theatre - Londen (Engeland)

12 okt 23 - 19:30 - Seoul Performing Arts Festival - Seoul (Korea)

15 okt 23 - 19:00 - Seoul Performing Arts Festival - Seoul (Korea)

16 nov 23 - 20:30 - CAMPO nieuwpoort - Gent

02 mrt 24 - 19:00 - MITsp - Mostra Internacional de Teatro São Paulo - São Paulo (Brazilië)

03 mrt 24 - 16:00 - MITsp - Mostra Internacional de Teatro São Paulo - São Paulo (Brazilië)

15 mrt 24 - 19:00 - Espoo City Theatre - Espoo (Finland)

16 mrt 24 - 14:00 - Espoo City Theatre - Espoo (Finland)

14 aug 24 - Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac - Aurillac (Frankrijk)

15 aug 24 - Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac - Aurillac (Frankrijk)

16 aug 24 - Festival International de Théâtre de Rue d'Aurillac - Aurillac (Frankrijk)

16 jan 25 - 19:00 - Under The Radar x The Perelman Performing Arts Center - New York (Verenigde Staten)

17 jan 25 - 19:00 - Under The Radar x The Perelman Performing Arts Center - New York (Verenigde Staten)

18 jan 25 - 13:00 - Under The Radar x The Perelman Performing Arts Center - New York (Verenigde Staten)

18 jan 25 - 18:00 - Under The Radar x The Perelman Performing Arts Center - New York (Verenigde Staten)

31 jan 25 - 19:30 - Moss Arts Center - Blacksburg (Verenigde Staten)

01 feb 25 - 16:00 - Moss Arts Center - Blacksburg (Verenigde Staten)

01 feb 25 - 19:30 - Moss Arts Center - Blacksburg (Verenigde Staten)

06 feb 25 - 19:30 - Walker Art Center - Minneapolis (Verenigde Staten)

07 feb 25 - 19:30 - Walker Art Center - Minneapolis (Verenigde Staten)

08 feb 25 - 19:30 - Walker Art Center - Minneapolis (Verenigde Staten)

12 feb 25 - 20:00 - The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center - College Park (University of Maryland) (Verenigde Staten)

13 feb 25 - 20:00 - The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center - College Park (University of Maryland) (Verenigde Staten)